Top 3-Week Itineraries for a Perfect Tour of Europe : T AND TB

BY  Abdul Aziz Mar 14, 2023

If you are a high net-worth person searching for the best country to live, study, and invest in the European Union, the solution is to acquire the France Golden Visa. In 2016, France witnessed a venture capital investment of 2.6 billion USD. By offering such visas, France intends to entice the new generation into world-leading companies, generate jobs, and promote innovation in the French economy. One of the reputed organizations that offer France Golden Visa services is Pearl Lemon Visa. It assures you of a hassle-free and speedy application process. 3 Types Of Golden Visas In France Based on its economic activities, France renders three varieties of Golden Visas: Economic Residence Permitting:  This had a minimum investment of 10 million euros. In 2016, these visas were closed and replaced by Talent Passports. Economic Residence Permitting is a program implemented by the French government to allow non-European Union citizens who invest in or start a business in France to obtain a long-term residence permit. This program is designed to encourage foreign investment and stimulate economic growth in France. To be eligible for an Economic Residence Permit, an individual must invest in a French business, create a business in France, or acquire an existing business. The investment must meet certain criteria, such as creating jobs, contributing to the French economy, and being a viable business plan. Read Also: What You Need To Know Before Going On A Trip To Las Vegas Advantages Of Having This Visa Economic residence permits allow investors and entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses in the host country. This can create new job opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of the country. Economic residence permits provide foreign investors and entrepreneurs with access to a large market, which can help them grow their businesses more quickly than they would be able to in their home countries. Economic residence permits often allow for a long-term stay in the host country, which provides investors and entrepreneurs with stability and allows them to fully immerse themselves in the local business environment. Even the applicant’s families can get the benefits of these visas. The French Tech Visa This is for entrepreneurs and startups. The French Tech Visa is a program designed by the French government to attract talented foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and startup employees to France. It is a fast-track program that aims to facilitate the arrival and residence of these individuals in France to help them build their businesses and develop their skills. In 2017, the nation launched this visa type. The main intention was to entice investors, employees, entrepreneurs, and another technical talent. It facilitated the advent and integration of such individuals. When Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, declared the commencement of this visa, he revealed that the goal of this visa was to make France the center of entrepreneurship and innovation. He commented that France must be a leader in these domains, specifically regarding issues such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the convergence of clean technology, digital technology, and all Green technologies. Advantages Of Having This Visa The applicant has to apply to the Ministry of Finance (the French Tech team). Then, this team provides a letter of approval indicating eligibility for a priority procedure. The applicant has to fulfill the following conditions while applying for the visa. You should have financial resources that are the minimum as the French annual minimum wage of 18,000 euros on January 1, 2018. You need to have an economically innovative startup project that could be implemented in France. Your application had to be approved by a French public organization named ‘Direccte.’ The French Tech Visa application process is streamlined and simplified, making it easier for foreign tech talent to apply for and obtain a visa to live and work in France. Once you have submitted your French Tech Visa application, it will be processed within four weeks, which is much faster than other types of visas. The Talent Passport Scheme This has a minimum investment of 0.3 million euros. The Talent Passport Scheme is a program initiated by the French government to attract highly skilled workers from non-European countries to work and live in France. The scheme aims to address skills shortages in certain sectors by facilitating the entry and residence of these workers in France. The Talent Passport Scheme is open to applicants with skills in one of 10 targeted sectors, including engineering, science, technology, and culture. Applicants must also have a job offer or work contract from a French company, and their annual salary must meet a certain threshold. Advantages Of Having This Scheme This scheme was pertinent to 10 categories, including investors of projects, leaders of innovations, company creators, recent graduates, highly skilled workers, and employees of novel, innovative organizations. When these schemes were being designed, the investment limit was reduced from 10 million Euros to 0.3 million Euros. Another change was that the limit of generating or maintaining a minimum of 50 jobs was substituted by a general requirement of creating, retaining, and committing to retain jobs during the four years after you invest in France. The investor and family members are provided a 4-year residency card. This scheme is different from another multi-annual residence, which is permitted in that it permits nationals of third-country countries with a long-stay visa to come to France. After their advent in France, they can request the Talent Passport residence permit. After this permit process, the third-country citizen can work in the investment project’s framework that justifies the grant of the Talent Passport. Now, the person can perform some activity in the business and must generate and retain jobs while the Talent Passport is valid. Wrapping Up All of these visas are convenient for entrepreneurs. Often the government terms and conditions keep changing. Before applying for the visa, ensure the present terms and conditions of the visa process. Are you thinking of applying for visas to France? Then comment back to us and let us know about your experiences. Read Also : The Business Trip Tips And Diet 7 Key points Remember while Planning Your Honeymoon Trip Planning A Hunting Trip To Africa – Here’s what you should Know

BY  Sibashree Apr 28, 2025

This time, I was on a 2-day Paris travel and was working on how the best hotels in Paris have been supporting the thriving tourism scene in the city. I did my case study on the hotels near Opera Paris France, to get the entire picture.  I also had the opportunity to meet the leaders of Citadines Apart'hotel Opéra Paris, which The Ascott Limited operates. They shared their insights and observations with me. Paris had a footfall of 11.2 million during the Summer Olympics of 2024. The success story with great numbers continued as Paris consolidated the Olympics’ success for the rest of the year.  This boost in the number of tourists has further facilitated growth in the hospitality sector. The French hospitality sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.34% from 2023 to 2028.  However, these two booming industries are also bearing the wrath of overtourism in the city.  So, there could not be a better time to delve deeper into how the best hotels in Paris have been supporting tourism so far. Also, we need to talk about how they respond to minimize the impact of overtourism with sustainable practices.  Best Hotels In Paris: Working And Growing With The Tourism Industry Of The City The best hotels in Paris are beyond tourist accommodations. With luxury in mind and an upscale shift, these hotels are influencing the spending patterns of tourists.  France was the most-visited country in the world in 2024, with an unbelievable footfall of around 100 million.  Now, a large number of these tourists look for accommodations in luxury hotels. With their hotel expenses and overall luxury spending increasing, the city gains revenue.  This approach aligns with what Nathalie Delattre, the French Minister of Tourism, stated in response to the anticipated tourism boom in France for 2024.  “We need to work to increase the average each visitor spends and get our visitors to stay longer.” The impact of hotels in Paris on tourist spending patterns extends beyond the standalone tourism and hospitality industry. It’s about the overall GDP and economy of the city.  But the “luxury experience” here is not to scare you if you are a tourist. It does not mean that you cannot visit Paris within a budget. It’s true that Paris, as a travel destination, is somewhat expensive, and accommodations are pricier than those in similar setups in other countries. However, the city offers a diverse range of hotel tariffs. A Shared Market Space Creating Discord Between The Hotel And Tourism Sectors? A shared market space!  This has been one of the biggest challenges for the top hotels in Paris, as they collaborate with the tourism industry to boost the city’s economy.  Now, services like AirBnb are offering more flexibility in booking and better pricing options. So, of course, there is the “price sensitivity” factor. Additionally, Airbnb is eager to seize opportunities, as it did during the Summer Olympics in Paris last time.   Airbnb was the official sponsor of the Paris Olympics, and it played a significant role in the 44% surge in short-term rental bookings in 2024 from the summer of 2023.  Also, Airbnb was direct when it approached the visitors of the Paris Olympics to avoid the “touristy side of Paris" and book short-term rentals on the “Paris-y side of Paris.” Moreover, Airbnb, through the “Airbnb500 Travel Grant,” offered discounts to tourists visiting Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics.  Now, with discounted pricing and Parisians willing to give up their accommodation on rent through Airbnb, many hotels in Paris have suffered.  "The rate discounting that's happened, the occupancy levels, they're definitely being suppressed and compressed by the short-term rental market, without question.”Blake Reiter, Director of Research, Lighthouse Having said that, the best hotels in Paris have been able to keep their presence strong as they cater to the group of tourists seeking a high-end experience.  Additionally, city officials have introduced restrictions on short-term rentals to prevent Airbnb and similar businesses from causing significant harm to the hospitality industry.  Moreover, in November 2024, France approved an “Anti-Airbnb Bill” to control the increase in vacation rentals.  So, the threats of a shared market space have become less for the best hotels in Paris and other parts of France.  Overtourism In Paris: How The Best Hotels In Paris Respond To It? The best hotels in Paris had a slow start in summer 2024. However, with the Summer Olympics inching closer, occupancy rates in these hotels increased despite challenges from Airbnb and other short-term rental services.  During the summer Olympics, the hotel occupancy rate in this area reached 84%. Of course, there was revenue growth with a higher occupancy rate, discounts, and non-refundable rooms for tourists.  Still, the housing industry could not avoid an accommodation crunch, hygiene issues, safety threats, and other impacts of overtourism.  A sustainable collaboration between the best hotels in Paris and tourists is crucial. It will minimize the environmental impact and enhance the overall quality of life in the city.   For example, The Ascott Limited's sustainability program has helped me understand how the best hotels in Paris are doing it right. They are trying to minimize the impact of overtourism on the city’s environment and natural resources. Showing Commitment To Sustainability The Ascott Limited is sincere about taking care of the environment. Also, it has earned the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Committed status.  Moreover, Ascott Limited aims to achieve GSTC-Accredited Body certification for its global portfolio by 2028.  The sustainability program, known as “Ascott CARES,” is based on five fundamental pillars, and those are: Respect Alliance Community Environment  Supply Chain Also, Ms. Beh Siew Kim from Ascott has mentioned that sustainability has always been a key priority for the business. “The Ascott Limited aiming to have all their properties certified by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies by 2028 where applicable* is a testament to how serious they are committed as an organization to environmental and social responsibility. We applaud Ascott’s leadership and vision in prioritizing sustainability, and I am confident that their efforts will set a benchmark for others in the sector to follow.”Randy Durband, CEO, The Global Sustainable Tourism Council With Ascott Limited as an example, the best hotels in Paris are also redefining the tourism landscape. They are also trying to fight overtourism by building a sustainable future. 

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 3, 2020

Have you ever wondered what destruction happens to a city or region post a nuclear radiation accident? Are you aware of the Chernobyl Plant and Pripyat city, the site of the nuclear accident situated in the erstwhile USSR? Did you know that there are countless documentaries and movies been made about the Chernobyl disaster? There are countless stories and myths, which abound about Chernobyl. While some say that it was just an accident at a nuclear plant, others point to a warring country being responsible for executing the same. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl happened in the erstwhile USSR era. This was roughly around the same time when the Cold War was raging between Communist USSR and the Western Capitalist world. The stories, myths, controversies have made Chernobyl somewhat of an urban legend. Chernobyl has become so famous that it has been featured in a Netflix series. It has also started attracting audiences and tourists from all over the world, who want to see one of the most significant remnants of our modern history. An Introduction to Pripyat, the city surrounding Chernobyl Visiting Pripyat today we could only imagine that it was a city of opportunity, where almost every resident had a prestigious job and a promising future. This city is located on the Pripyat River, 3 kilometers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, has been prosperous and advanced since its foundation. Until April 26, 1986, when the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant forced more than 300 thousand people to leave their homes due to the threat of radiation. This is how the exclusion zone appeared – an area of 2,600 square kilometers, free of people. Before the Chernobyl incident, Pripyat was one of the most economically developed and bustling cities of the USSR. The trade, commerce, and lifestyle of the people were as good as it could get under a Communist regime. Culturally, Pripyat embodied the best of the USSR. The Chernobyl accident was a major turning point in the fortunes of the city and its inhabitants. The Problems faced by Inhabitants of Pripyat after the Chernobyl Accident Many inhabitants were forced to shift to government camps and medical facilities. They were monitored for radiation and many also faced isolation and therapy. Even after the nuclear winter ended, traces of radiation were found in water, soil, etc. The government could not ever settle inhabitants in the city. Many were forced to migrate thousands of miles to different regions, often starting from scratch. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant changed hundreds of thousands of destinies, caused enormous economic damage, and a crushing blow to the nuclear industry. In the shortest possible time, the whole city was to be empty, people were not allowed to take anything except documents. Visiting Pripyat now, we can see how much pain it was for people to leave in a hurry all their property acquired over the years. As Pripyat was a bustling center of trade and commerce, you can still see so many markets, big complexes, theatres, and auditoriums. Many historians have stated that Pripyat was as rich and powerful as Moscow was. However, after the accident, there was just chaos and destruction as far as the eye could see. How Chernobyl looks like today? Here is what you can expect if you visit Chernobyl today Visiting Chernobyltoday is like returning to the distant Soviet Union. Here you can still see elements of communist propaganda, personal belongings scattered on the streets, and abandoned buildings. The hammer and sickle adorn the lanterns on the eve of the May holidays, which were not destined to take place. Toys are scattered across the schoolyard, abandoned by children in the confusion. The clock in the city shows 11:55 – the time of the power outage. Visiting Chernobyl safe is possible with the help of the professional guides, who know all the impressive but at the same time safe places of the abandoned city. Chernobyl visit is available in several options: One-day tour (Includes 27 top locations, lasts for 11 hours including comfortable bus. The price is from 35 euro per person) Two-day tour (Includes 57 top locations, lasts for 36 hours including top comfortable bus. The price is from 95 euro per person) Private tour (No restrictions on the number of locations, no limitation on hours – one, two, or even five days in Chernobyl) Present-day Chernobyl: What is happening? Whatever tour you choose Chernobyl visit will give you an opportunity to see how nature conquers human error. Pripyat turns into a forest. Houses begin to collapse, asphalt turns into moss, houses grow into trees, wide avenues disappear. Visiting Pripyat, it will be interesting to see: Shelter "Sarcophagus". It covers the destroyed Unit 4 to protect the environment from continued exposure to radiation. The Exclusion Zone. Excursions along this area are conducted with visits to local "attractions", museums, and communication with self-settlers. Amusement Park. The official opening of the amusement park was planned for May 1, 1986. Red Forest. It has absorbed a huge dose of radioactive dust. Most of the trees died, and the survivors took on a rusty hue. The Bridge of Death. The townspeople came here to see the burning reactor, not knowing that the radiation level here was one of the highest in the city. Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of tourists made a visit to Chernobyl and Pripyat. But, believe me, the emotions that you feel when you find yourself in this city cannot be compared with anything. The Final Word If you are someone who is fascinated by Cold War history or seeing the height of Communist Power in the USSR, you will love Chernobyl. Even though the city and the region lie in ruins, there is a quaint romance about the place. Describing how you would feel after visiting Chernobyl is something that even the best travel writers cannot do. Part of the reason is that Chernobyl and Pripyat remain one of those rare places on Earth, which can still give you goosebumps. You have a city, without inhabitants, you have markets without shoppers, and you have buildings without owners. Read Also: 10 Best Places To Visit In Europe Top Places To Visit In Italy On Your Next Travel Escapade